Found any parallels to The Great Gatsby? Well, of course you have! If you haven't... look closer!!
Give an example of a parallel or connection that you have found, explain the example, give all the details necessary, and then be sure to explain how this novel puts its own twist on it.
Remember: it won't be exactly the same or else Quinonez just copied Fitzgerald!
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Two characters that are very similar between the two stories are Chino and Nick Carraway. One thing that is similar is that fact that they do not always tell the truth. Nick reveals this in his narration but is shown by Chino in his relationship with Blanca. Another thing that is similar is the fact that both men have the potential to be successful, but they need help to get over the hump. This is where the characters Willie Bodega and Jay Gatsby come into play. The most obvious similarity is the fact that they are both asked to help reunite their friend with a woman from the man's past. It is too early in Bodega Dream's to know if Willie and Chino will become close friends, but I believe that they will.
-Kyle T
The parallel that really stood out to me between Bodega Dreams and the Great Gastby is the roles of Bodega and Gastby. Both have a very high status in their communities; yet keep a very low profile. With their rich earnings, both characters throw numerous gatherings and work for a lot of business to enhance the people and community around them. As Alekhya said, they both strive to relive their pasts, and more importantly, the women they loved. To make this love rekindle, Bodega and Gastby both depend on their newly acquainted friends, Tom and Chino. However, to me, they are just using Chino and Tom, while pretending to be their friends because they both have some sort of connection to Vera or Daisy, to further have them stay on the bandwagon for the one goal of winning their true loves back. Under both of their rich lifestyle’s, lies a deep sense of insecurity where they were both were once rejected by these women for not being wealthy enough. Therefore, once Bodega and Gatsby are at a stable place in their lives, they decide to finally reach out and show Vera and Daisy what they have missed out on. However, they both know deep inside the only reason for their success and richness is for Vera and Daisy. Even though both are well grown men, they both act and feel as if they are living in their pasts, never wanting to move on.
-emily
There are many parallels between The Great Gastby and Bodega Dreams but there are a few that stood out to me more than any others. These are how Both Gastby and Bodega are trying to recapture a lost love of the past and hot they are using a relative of their lost love to try to recapture their love. Bodega is trying to get Vera back and Gastby was trying to recapture Daisy. Also these loves, daisy and Vera, are some of the few people who know the true identities of Gastby and Bodega. Both Gastby and Bodega are mysterious people that are not known in their community other than the guy ho throws great parties (Gastby), or the guy who helps everybody (Bodega). It is their lost love who truly knows who they are.
James Ackley
Similarly to Philbin, I noticed the parallel of the green light, one being of that at the end of Daisy's dock and the other being a light given off by Bodega. I found it interesting, however, that Quinonez decided to mix up who was abosrbing this green light of hope. I think it's interesting that Gatsby is the one looking towards the green light symbolizing hope, but in Bodega Dreams, Willie Bodega, Gatsby's parallel, is the one giving off the light to a different audience.
Another interesting difference between the two is that Gatsby's hope only relates to himself, whereas Bodega's hope is concerning the general public and the entire section of East Harlem rather than solely his future and what will happen to him. It shows a contrast between the characters that Bodega is much more caring and thoughtful of others than Gatsby is.
-tony lorenzi
Chino and Nick Carraway seem to be alike because they both eventually come to be involved in scheming/ planning that they at first don’t want to be associated with. Both Gatsby and Bodega have questionable backgrounds that once threatened their relationship with the love of their life. After making successful lives for themselves, both Gatsby and Bodega want to reunite with the love of their lives again and use others in order to reunite with them (Nick and Chino). Both are mysterious and keep aspects of their past undercover. In the Great Gatsby, Nick does not ask anything in return for helping Gatsby but Bodega willingly offers housing for Chino in Bodega Dreams. The settings of both novels contribute to the major difference between the lifestyles of the characters in each novel. I think that because of these two different settings and lifestyles of the characters in both novels there could be a twist that makes the two stories very different.
Chino and Nick Carraway seem to be alike because they both eventually come to be involved in scheming/ planning that they at first don’t want to be associated with. Both Gatsby and Bodega have questionable backgrounds that once threatened their relationship with the love of their life. After making successful lives for themselves, both Gatsby and Bodega want to reunite with the love of their lives again and use others in order to reunite with them (Nick and Chino). Both are mysterious and keep aspects of their past undercover. In the Great Gatsby, Nick does not ask anything in return for helping Gatsby but Bodega willingly offers housing for Chino in Bodega Dreams. The settings of both novels contribute to the major difference between the lifestyles of the characters in each novel. I think that because of these two different settings and lifestyles of the characters in both novels there could be a twist that makes the two stories very different.
-mk reynolds
Alright Kathy Kendall over here, A+! Woo! Well I agree with what she said and I was going to write about that but now I'm just going to have to come up with something new.
At this half-way point in the book I can already see several similarities between Bodega Dreams and the Great Gatsby. One of the biggest similarites I've found is the relationship between Bodega and Blanca's aunt Vera, and how it connects to Gatsby and Daisy in the Great Gatsby. In both books, the narrator depicts a story to the read of how all four characters missed out on their once chance at love in their pasts. Just at this half-way point in Bodega Dreams, we already know all about Bodega and his infatuation with Vera, how her mother forced her to leave Bodega and marry a Cuban, and how Bodega still wishes to marry Vera so many years later. This concept is mirrored in the Great Gatsy with the concept of Daisy and Gatsby and their past relationship. Nick Carraway, the narrator, tells how the two used to be in love until Gatsby disappeared and Daisy was forced to move on. Then when Gatsby came back into her life with the help of Nick, it was as though they were right back where they started. Although these two siutations are not exactly the same, they still are closely based upon each other, with Quinonez playing off of Fitzgerald's timesless love triangle concept.
--Allie Nix
A huge connection between this novel and the Great Gatsby is the character of Bodega and how he parallels Gatsby. They both play the part of the "big guy" who is trying to help everyone else. More importantly is what they both lost due to their true love chosing money over love. Daisy couldn't stay with Gatsby because he wasn't successful just like Vera couldn't be with Bodega because he wasn't successful. Winning the girl back became both of these men's obsession and overwhelmed their life. It also is what pushed both of them to make something out of themselves and they both became successful. The chase for Daisy, however, became Gatsby's ultimate defeat and in the end he didn't get the girl. At this point in the novel, I don't know if the same downfall will happen to Bodega but I wouldn't be surprised if Quinonez mirrors this same plot line. I believe the author did this in order to show that money over love is a time old decision that can really change a person, for it changed the lives of both Bodega and Gatsby. Now if Daisy and Vera made the right decision is up to them, but these men risked so much for them and instead they sold out for a rich guy they didn't love. We haven't met Vera yet but from our interaction with Daisy in the Great Gatsy we know she wasn't as happy as she could have been with Gatsby. I feel bad for both Bodega and Gatsby cause all they wanted was something they couldn't have.
-MEGHAN DOHERTY :)
Vera is similar to the character Daisy in "The Great Gatsby." Also, Bodega is similar to Gatsby. Both Vera and Daisy married rich men, and were heavily influenced by prompting from their parents and family. Vera had a relationship with Bodega, and Daisy had a relationship with Gatsby, but both Gatsby and Bodega were not rich during the relationship, and after losing the girl they love they changed in some way in order to win her back. Gatsby became rich for Daisy, and Bodega became less involved in politics, and also became rich. Both Bodega and Gatsby became rich through illicit means, Gatsby by way of smuggling alcohol during the Prohibition, and Bodega by selling crack cocaine. Other similarities between the two novels are sure to emerge in the second half of the book.
-Tom Barnes
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